Peace all, A couple of weeks back, I was invited to a screening of Yusef Bunchy Shakur’s new documentary, ‘Detroit’s Native Son’. It was an honor to be invited to this small gathering at the Urban Network Bookstore, which is right around the corner, yet very much on the other side of the tracks, from where we live in Woodbridge.

Sitting with many of Yusef’s family and friends, I watched as his life unfolded through the documentary. It was intense to see Yusef’s story, one that many have been inspired by through his books and his work in the community, as informed by those around him, friends, family, rivals and fellow activists. I deeply appreciated the opportunity, though a challenging one, to look more directly at a life so deeply filled with the realities of our city, both the violence and abuse and the miracles and redemption.

Yusef is hosting another screening at the Burton Theatre this Sunday, October 21st at 3pm. There are still VIP tickets available through eventbright. I highly recommend checking this one out. Respect ~Gregg

Six years ago today Angela and I went out on our first date and to honor and celebrate her father Stan’s birthday. We started at Oslo and ended up at a Nancy Whiskey open mic. It was an amazing night. Until that night there was just this little spark, which I’d always been content with but that kept me a distant, often aloof, observer in even the closest of relationships. That little spark powered me, fueled and fed me enough to propel myself through the drama, or at least from one to the next.

But that night, I, we, that spark, the entire world caught fire like goin’ nova, like an unaware prayer being answered, like this place was suddenly real and things that mattered not suddenly had weight and depth immeasurable. You threw a switch, you turned me on and brought the magic and blessed-but-disconnected wanderings of decades into alignment and unknown relevance.

You met and reflected my little spark born star. Your form, your frame, your star, not only kept up, ha!, but carried me further out than I had ever been before. My awesome gratitude to you, love. I am so blessed to know the reality of our stars, our fire, everyday in our progeny, in Aya as he lives and breaths the joy and wonder that we ignited that night.

We’ve clung to each other in and through this fire, that we each stoke-strong with our experience and history. Through displacement, eviction, poisoning, and down-right devilish deception, this fire burning away of layer after layer. We’ve clung to each other as the flesh of our ancestors has turned to ash and memory in our hands and minds. We’ve held each other as we have each, in our own ways and means, learned to grow, purge, release, and submit to this fire. Thank you so much for holding me as I’ve learned to trust our fire.

Tomorrow, our trust will deepen as we stoke our fire to greater heights by breathing together through the remembrances of your mom’s transition last year. While painful, the portent implicit in the reality that our fire, our star, was born betwixt the joy of Stanley’s birth and the sadness of Karen’s passing, is affirming, sound, symmetrical and sacred. It bears witness, amongst many confirmations in our life, to the fact that this fire, our fire, is protected and secured by our ancestors. That our fire is their fire.

Thank you my love, I know that you know the depth of my gratitude to and for you today and all days. I love you.

There have been several news stories in recent weeks about the possible sale of significant amounts of city owned land. Land use decisions being made now will broadly impact every resident in our city for decades to come.

In an effort to inform and engage residents on this issue, the Detroit Food Policy Council (DFPC) is hosting a public listening session to inform the public about the city’s current process for selling land and to provide an opportunity for the community to share their experiences, ideas and questions about the sale of public land with city officials and the DFPC. We invite you and your members to attend this session and share your opinion with local officials, the DFPC and fellow community members.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with a light meal and opportunity to hear and share personal experiences with purchasing land from the city. The agenda includes presentations by city officials and residents of the issues followed by a public comment period.

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